Two Mules for Sister Sara

Synopsis

Set in Mexico, a nun called Sara is rescued from three cowboys by Hogan, who is on his way to do some reconnaissance, for a future mission to capture a French fort. The French are chasing Sara, but not for the reasons she tells Hogan, so he decides to help her in return for information about the fort defences. Inevitably the two become good friends but Sara has a secret..

Set in Mexico, a nun called Sara is rescued from three cowboys by Hogan, who is on his way to do some reconnaissance, for a future mission to capture a French fort. The French are chasing Sara, but not for the reasons she tells Hogan, so he decides to help her in return for information about the fort defences. Inevitably the two become good friends but Sara has a secret..

Cast

Tech specs

Movie Reviews

Reviewed by moonspinner55 7 / 10

Strange, but solid western

Curious, unexpectedly talky western set in the Mexican desert. Drifter
on horseback saves a nun from rape at the hands of bandits, she saves
him by removing an arrow from his shoulder. The rapport between these
two couldn't have looked very colorful on the printed page, but by God
if stars Clint Eastwood and feisty Shirley MacLaine don't give it color
and charisma. The writing isn't very expressive, and there's an odd
drop-off in action after the opening sequence, but once you get attuned
to the film's rhythm, it surprises you with its resonance. For action
buffs, only the final shoot-out will please; for everyone else, a
leisurely, though absorbing and entertaining, character-driven
change-of-pace. *** from ****

Reviewed by Righty-Sock 8 / 10

The film echoes "The African Queen," but...

With the intervention of Napoleon III of France, Archduque Maximilian
was installed as emperor in Mexico but Mexican countrymen known as
Juaristas (Juarez' resistance) were fighting to demonstrate that their
country could act independently, that - as the reform contended - all
men were equal under law, and that foreign monarchical adventures in
Mexico were futile...

Sister Sara (Shirley MacLaine), presumably a nun, has adopted their
cause and is being pursued by the French army for raising money to the
Juaristas... Hogan (Clint Eastwood) is a wonder obliged to neither
party... He appears unexpectedly when Sister Sara is about to be raped
by three men... Fortunately for her, he kills them all...

But unlike the 'Man With No Name,' Eastwood doesn't turn and ride
away... He escorts the good-looking nun in her mission...

But the nun's strange behavior intrigues his curiosity... She smokes
cigars, she drinks whiskey and her language comes to be every day more
profane...

Hogan's fascination with her arrives at its peak when she removes an
Indian arrow from his shoulder, having rendering him half insensible by
intoxicating him with shots of Whiskey...

After joining her to blow up a French supply train, he is persuaded to
help a group of Juaristas led by Colonel Beltran (Manolo Fabregas) in a
final attack on a French garrison...

The climax of "Two Mules for Sister Sara" displays the differences
between Leone's conclusion which the 'Stranger' merely disappears into
the mists of time... The change of image didn't excite the audience
leaving the picture with enough nostalgia for the myth of the loner,
the super hero, the 'Man With No Name.'

The film (beautifully shot in Color) is really a two-character story...
The interesting team gives amusing and tender performances... The
motion picture echoes "The African Queen," but is far away from being
Hepburn/Bogart exciting adventure...

Reviewed by C.K. Dexter Haven 8 / 10

Clint at his best

Sure, he's in the shadow here of his more famous Leone westerns, but
this vehicle, amiably directed by Don Siegel and aided by a quirky
Ennio Morricone score, is an entertaining little spaghetti western
knockoff shot on location in Mexico. Story-wise, it's an old west
Heaven Knows Mr. Allison with a comic twist, and with an offbeat
nemesis in the French Army. The humorous chemistry between Eastwood's
Hogan and MacLaine's Sara at times clicks so well it's hard to believe
they reportedly didn't get along very well during production. Though
when it comes to Shirley MacLaine nothing really surprises me.

As far as Eastwood's post Spaghetti movies, he's rarely been in better
form than this. Essentially continuing his man with no name persona, he
gets far more dialogue this time around which fleshes out his character
and makes him a little more three dimensional. It's a nice change of
pace from the Leone westerns to hear Clint spout a few humorous lines
and have the odd hilarious facial expression in between his trademark
squinting and snarling and cigar chomping.

Disciples of Leone's trilogy may never warm up to an admittedly hammier
Clint in this, but as Clint's Hollywood westerns go, this is a fun and
well made duster. Shouldn't be missed.